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New
Zealand’s HIV infections hit a record high in 2005
New
Zealand’s HIV infections hit a record high in 2005
Nearly half of New Zealand's new HIV cases are reported among gay and bisexual men.
New Zealand health officials this week announced that new HIV infections in the country hit a record-high number in 2005, climbing 17% over 2004's level, Agence France-Presse reports. There were 183 new HIV cases reported in 2005, the largest number since HIV record keeping began in 1985.
Eighty-nine of the new cases--nearly half--were reported among gay and bisexual men.
"In spite of an abundance of HIV prevention information in gay communities, it seems that an increasing number of men are choosing not to use condoms for anal sex every time," Rachael Le Mesurier, executive director of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation, told Agence France-Presse. "A properly used condom is close to 100% effective against the virus." (Advocate.com)
